Cant indicator for firearms

ABSTRACT

An indicator device includes an indicator and an inclination sensor that is calibrated relative to a vertical axis and to which a vertical plane is allocated, and the inclination sensor senses a deflection of the vertical plane with respect to the vertical axis. The indicator device forms a module and is provided with a fastening device for mounting on a system consisting of a weapon and a telescopic sight. The indicator includes at least one lighting element.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention relates to an indicator device an indicator and aninclination sensor that is calibrated with respect to a vertical axisand with which a vertical plane is associated, and the inclinationsensor senses a deflection of the vertical plane with respect to thevertical axis and a system consisting of a firearm. The invention alsorelates to a telescopic sight where the module can be fastened to theeyepiece of the telescopic sight by the fastening device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] For a modem equipped precision firearm, under optimumenvironmental conditions, the target point aimed at can be attained attarget ranges of up to 1,200 meters with a hit accuracy of 40 cm with a0.338 caliber.

[0005] Besides the unavoidable error factors such as thermals orchanging wind directions within the flight path of the shot, weapon cantis an important possible source of error. Thus, for example, a cant of3° at a target range of 600 meters, with a bullet drop of 3 meters,results in a hit deviation of 16 cm. An alignment of the weapon with theaid of the cross hairs and orientation aids in the place of use, such asedges of buildings and lampposts, is not always possible. Particularlyfor use in impassable terrain such as mountains, the requiredorientation aids for alignment of the weapon are not available.

[0006] From German Patent Document DE 22 59 913, a telescopic sight isknown, with a construction by means of which hit deviations due tosystem cant and air pressure effects can be mechanically compensated. Inthis system, optical elements of the telescopic sight are displaced forcompensating the cant. Thus the inverting system contained in thetelescopic sight is mounted by means of a spring, so that the invertingsystem is deflected with respect to the telescopic sight by the effectof the spring in dependence on a cant.

[0007] Such a mechanical compensation is connected with a highmechanical expense. Furthermore, such a construction has the risk ofdestabilizing the target line, since optical elements for imaging thetarget line are not mounted with axial stability.

[0008] From German Patent Document DE 34 01 855 A1, an auxiliary aimingdevice for firearms is known. This auxiliary aiming device consists ofan inclinometer associated with the sighting device for monitoring thecant angle of the firearm. The inclinometer consists of a closed profiletube ring of transparent material, which is about half filled with aliquid. The ends of the liquid column are associated with a marking, sothat a cant of the weapon can be read off from the liquid level inrelation to the marking. In this design of an inclinometer, it isdisadvantageous that the viscosity of the liquid changes in dependenceon temperature, and thus the accuracy of indication depends upon thetemperature, which is undesirable.

[0009] From Swiss Patent Document CH 48379, a panoramic levelingtelescope for firearms is known. In this panoramic leveling telescope, aspirit level is attached to the eyepiece housing with its axis runningperpendicular to the eyepiece axis.

[0010] From the Anschütz company, a sight is known under the designation“Universal Sight 7002/20”, as advertised in the Kettner 2002 huntingcatalog on page 114, and can be pivoted for compensating cant.

[0011] Furthermore, telescopic sights are known in which a spirit levelis integrated as an alignment aid into one image plane. This however hasthe disadvantage that parallax is always present for imaging, and thatthe spirit level is often poorly visible. Besides this, thefunctionality is restricted when shock and temperature fluctuationsoccur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The object of the invention is to provide a system that can beuniversally used and is cost-effective.

[0013] Another object of the invention is to provide a device making itpossible for a marksman to exactly align the firearm, even in impassableterrain.

[0014] The object of the invention was attained by the followingfeatures: an indicator and an inclination sensor that is calibrated withrespect to a vertical axis and with which a vertical plane isassociated, and the inclination sensor senses a deflection of thevertical plane with respect to the vertical axis, which includes amodule that is formed by an indicator device and is provided with afastening device for mounting on a system consisting of a firearm and atelescopic sight. By the measure of forming the indicator device as amodule that can be attached by means of a fastening device to a systemconsisting of a firearm and telescopic sight, it is possible to retrofitsuch a system with an indicating unit for the indication of a cant. Suchan indicator device can also be used with different telescopic sights.Furthermore it is thereby possible not to basically have to equip allthe telescopic sights of a series with the same kind of indicator devicein order to be able to offer this convenience to a potential customer.Consequently the development of the indicator device and of newtelescopic sights can proceed separately from each other, which also hasa positive effect on the development costs. Furthermore, the indicatordevice that includes a separate item or equipment, and a series with lownumbers of product, which do or do not have a cant indicator, areavoided.

[0015] Furthermore, the possibility is also provided to send anindicating device that has a defect for repair, and to continue to usethe telescopic sight or the system of firearm and telescopic sight.Also, a quick change is at comparatively little cost, since thetelescopic sight does not also have to be changed as well.

[0016] Since the indicator has at least one lighting element, it can beensured that a cant can be clearly indicated to the marksman even inconditions of poor visibility. It can also be provided that a lightingelement is provided for lighting the indicator, so that the lightingelement itself does not serve to indicate a cant.

[0017] The more precisely the alignment of the weapon is made possible,the more precise certainty of a hit can be ensured, even at greatranges.

[0018] Since a cant of the weapon is indicated to the marksman by thisindicator device, the marksman can himself correct the alignment of theweapon, and the optics of the telescopic sight are stably mounted in thetelescopic sight, so that destabilizing of the aiming line or of theaiming point cannot occur.

[0019] It has been found to be advantageous to provide an inclinationsensor emitting an electrical signal. This signal is supplied to acontrol device that is in signal connection with the indicator. A cantcan be very accurately sensed by such an inclination indicator, and thuseven very small cant angles a can be indicated to the marksman.Electrical inclination sensors are also obtainable which require onlyvery little constructional space and operate independently oftemperature and shock.

[0020] A control device makes it possible to provide different limitsfor permissible cants. It has been found to be advantageous to provide acontrol device into which data can also be read in via an interface,preferably a watertight infrared interface.

[0021] It has furthermore been found to be advantageous to provide asthe lighting element a diode that requires little electrical energy.

[0022] It has been found to be advantageous to signal the direction andamount of cant to the marksman by the nature of the light, flashingsignal and/or colored signal, of the at least one diode or of the onelighting element.

[0023] It has been found to be advantageous to provide an adjustingelement by which the brightness of the lighting element, particularly ofthe LED or indicator, can be adjusted. A rotary ring, push button,preferably two, and a toggle switch have been found to be advantageousadjusting elements. This adjusting element can also be provided foractivating the indicator device.

[0024] It has been found to be advantageous to provide a batterycompartment so that the inclination sensor and also the lighting elementcan be supplied with electrical energy by a battery. It has furthermorebeen found to be advantageous to provide a solar cell, so that theenergy supply can be at least partially provided by the solar cell, orthe batteries can be recharged by the solar cell.

[0025] In an embodiment, it is provided that the marksman is made awareof a poor energy status of the battery by a predetermined signal,particularly a flickering signal of the indicator.

[0026] As a fastening device, a clamp device has been found to besuitable, without having to provide a counterpart of a fastening deviceon the system of telescopic sight and fastening device.

[0027] In order to make available to the marksman an unrestricted fieldof view of the telescopic sight, it has been found to be advantageous toarrange this indicator outside the field of view of the telescopicsight, but within the markman's field of view. It can thereby beattained that the marksman in shooting position can perceive theindication. In particular, an arrangement coaxial with the eyepiece ofthe telescopic sight has been found to be advantageous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Further measures are described according to the invention. Theinvention is described in detail with reference to embodiments shown inthe accompanying Figures.

[0029]FIG. 1 shows the system consisting of firearm and telescopicsight.

[0030]FIG. 2 shows an eyepiece-side plan view of a telescopic sight withindicator device.

[0031]FIG. 3 shows a side view of the eyepiece section of the telescopicsight with indicator device.

[0032]FIG. 4 shows an indicator device with plan view.

[0033]FIG. 5 shows an indicator device in side view.

[0034]FIG. 6 shows an indicator device in spatial representation.

[0035]FIG. 7 shows an indicator device with a toggle switch as theadjusting element.

[0036]FIG. 8 shows an indicator device with press button switch.

[0037]FIG. 9 shows an indicator device with a plurality of lightingelements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] The principal structure of a system consisting of firearm andtelescopic sight is first described using FIG. 1.

[0039] In the system shown in FIG. 1, a rifle 3 is shown as the firearm1, and has a barrel 5. Instead of this, however, a crossbow could alsobe shown.

[0040] A telescopic sight 7 is fixed to the rifle 3 by means of afastening 15. This telescopic sight 7 is aligned so that the opticalaxis 17 of the telescopic sight 7 runs in a basic position parallel orapproximately parallel to the barrel 5 of the rifle 3 and is situated inthe plane of symmetry of the rifle.

[0041] When mounting the indicator device 22, care must be taken that adeflection with respect to the plane of symmetry of the rifle, alsotermed the vertical plane 19, from the vertical axis 21 is sensed by theinclination sensor 23. The vertical axis coincides with the direction inwhich gravitational force is effective. An adjustment can be performedeither purely mechanically or also by the input of an offset value.

[0042] Adjustment by the input of an offset value has been found to beparticularly convenient, since no special requirements are placed on themounting of the indicator device. The indicator device 22 is fastened tothe system consisting of the telescopic sight 7 and firearm 1. A sightis taken on a reference line arranged parallel to the vertical axis. Anelement connected to the control device is then actuated, which can beformed as a push button, or the element provided for adjusting thebrightness can be used. The sensed deviation of the vertical plane tothe vertical axis is thereby given in the control device as an offsetvalue. This offset value is thereafter taken into account in thedetermination of a cant. It is thereby possible with little expense toadjust the indicator device 22 after mounting on another systemconsisting of a firearm 1 and telescopic sight 7. A mechanical fineadjustment is thus not necessary with such a system.

[0043] The telescopic sight 7 includes an objective 9 and an eyepiece11. The telescopic sight is furthermore provided with an adjusting knob13 for parallax compensation and an adjusting knob 13 for setting aballistic compensation. The telescopic sight 7 is furthermore providedwith an indicator device 22. This indicator device 22 is arrangedcoaxially of the eyepiece 11 and is provided for indicating a cant ofthe rifle 1 with respect to the vertical axis 21, as described in detailhereinafter using FIG. 2.

[0044] As sketched in FIG. 2, the vertical plane 19 is fixed by means ofthe barrel 5 and the plane of symmetry of the weapon, and runs throughthe telescopic sight and the rifle. The vertical axis 21 is alignedaccording to the effective gravitational force. The acute angle includedbetween the vertical axis 21 and the vertical plane is denoted by α. Aslong as the vertical axis 21 does not coincide with the vertical plane,there is said to be a cant of the rifle. If the rifle is canted, asighted target, as explained in DE 22 59 913, is hit with a lateraloffset. For example, with a target distance of 600 meters and a bulletdrop of 3 meters, an hit point deviation of 16 cm in the horizontaldirection results when the cant is 3°. The indicator device 22 isprovided in order make possible for the marksman a reliable alignment ofthe weapon 1 without cant.

[0045]FIG. 3 shows a telescopic sight 7 provided with a possibleembodiment of an indicator device 22. The indicator device 22 includesan inclination sensor 23 that is arranged in a housing 26 of theindicator device 22. A control device 31 is furthermore arranged in thehousing 26 and is in signal connection with an indicator 25. The controldevice 31 is preferably embodied by a board on which the variouscomponents of the control device 31 are arranged and are connectedtogether in signal connection. ROMs and RAMs may be provided.

[0046] A cant of the rifle 3 is signaled to the marksman by thisindicator. In this embodiment, a lighting element 43, specifically anLED 45, is provided as the indicator 25, and is arranged outside thefield of view of the telescopic sight. However, the indicator 25 isarranged within the field of view of the marksman, so that the marksmancan always see this indicator 25 when sighting.

[0047] Electrical energy is required for operating this indicator device22, and is provided by means of a battery provided in the housing 26.The battery is arranged in a battery compartment 29 with a cover 28. Asolar cell 30 can in addition be provided for providing electricalenergy, and can recharge the battery, and the indicator device candirectly be operated with the energy provided by the solar cell.

[0048] A fastening device 33 is provided for fastening the indicatordevice 22 to the telescopic sight 7. This fastening device 33 is formedas a clamping device 35 that includes an elastic strip element as clampjaws 37. It is possible to fasten the indicator device 22 to differenttelescopic sights by such a clamping device. Strip elements of differentlengths can be used, and fastening of the indicator device 22 totelescopic sights or eyepieces of different diameter can thus beperformed. Another kind of clamping device that preferably has pluralclamp jaws can of course also be used. Mounting by a positiveconnection, for example by a screw segment that is, for example, screwedwith a thread in the fastening 15, is conceivable and could also beperformed at little cost by later turning of a thread on; the fastening15 for mounting of a telescopic sight.

[0049] An actuating element 49 is provided for switching on theindicator device 22. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a rotary ring 51is provided as the actuating element 49. A toggle switch 55 couldalternatively be used, as shown in FIG. 8. On toggling the toggle switch55 in one direction, the indicator device 22 is switched on, and byfurther holding the toggle switch 55 the brightness of the lightingelement(s) 43 of the indicator is increased. On toggling the toggleswitch 55 in the opposite direction, the brightness of the lightingelement(s) 43 is reduced. With a reduction of the brightness of thelighting element(s) 43 to zero, the indicator device is switched off. Afurther alternative of an actuating element 49 is shown in FIG. 9. Thisactuating element 49 consists of two press buttons 53, with the pressbutton nearer the marksman in the mounted state being provided forswitching on or for increasing the brightness of the lighting element orof the indicator 25. The press button 53 on the objective side isprovided for reducing the brightness and for switching off the indicatordevice. Separate actuating elements could of course be provided forswitching the indicator on and off.

[0050] Plural alternative solutions as the indicator are shown in FIGS.5, 8 and 10. In FIG. 8, a display 47 is provided as the indicator 25. Bydifferent representation on the display, the amount and direction of thecant can be indicated to the marksman. Numeral and letter codes can beused for this, for example “3 r” for a cant of 3° to the right. A purelygraphic display, for example, by an arrow, is also conceivable.

[0051] In FIG. 10, a plurality of LEDs is provided instead of one LED asthe indicator 25. Depending on the detected cant, at most two LEDs aredriven, the amount and direction of cant being indicated to the marksmanby their lighting up. For the different LEDs, different angular amountsare allocated to a deflection from the vertical axis, both LEDs beingdriven for a value between the values allocated to two adjacent LEDs.

[0052] Clamping to the fastening device 15 is possible as an alternativeto the arrangement of the indicator device coaxial to the eyepiece 11,the indication then preferably being arranged between the telescopicsight 7 and the rifle 3.

[0053] For mounting the indicator device 22 on the system consisting offirearm 1 and telescopic sight 7, or directly on the telescopic sight 7,it must be ensured that the indicator device 22 is aligned with respectto the vertical plane 19 such that upon a coincidence of the verticalaxis 21 with the vertical plane 19, the inclination sensor 23 detects adeflection of the vertical plane 19 of 0° with respect to the verticalaxis 21.

[0054] The permissible cants may depend on the weapon used, with apermissible cant having an acceptable deviation from the aiming pointsighted on remaining constant, becoming smaller with increasing targetdistance. A cant of maximum 1° has been found to be an acceptable amountfor a still permissible cant, since a weapon can still be held asprecisely as this by an experienced marksman. With a target distance of600 meters, a deviation of the hit point of at most ±5 cm results.

[0055] Smaller values can of course also be indicated to the marksman asstill permissible cant by the indicator device, by correspondingprogramming of the control device. This is of particular interest whenthe indicator device is not used together with a freely held firearm.

[0056] Reference List

[0057]1 weapon

[0058]3 rifle

[0059]5 barrel

[0060]7 telescopic sight

[0061]9 objective

[0062]11 eyepiece

[0063]13 adjusting knob

[0064]15 fastening

[0065]17 optical axis

[0066]18 preferred plane

[0067]19 vertical plane

[0068]21 vertical axis

[0069]22 indicator device

[0070]23 inclination sensor

[0071]25 indicator

[0072]26 housing

[0073]27 module

[0074]28 battery compartment cover

[0075]29 battery compartment

[0076]30 solar cell

[0077]31 control device

[0078]33 fastening device

[0079]35 clamping device

[0080]37 clamp jaws

[0081]39 field of view of the telescopic sight

[0082]43 lighting element

[0083]45 LED

[0084]47 display

[0085]49 adjusting element

[0086]51 rotary ring

[0087]53 press button switch

[0088]55 toggle switch

I claim:
 1. An indicator device including an indicator and aninclination sensor that is calibrated with respect to a vertical axisand with which a vertical plane is associated, wherein the inclinationsensor senses a deflection of the vertical plane with respect to thevertical axis, and wherein a module (27) is formed with an indicatordevice (22) and is provided with a fastening device (33) for mounting ona system comprising a firearm (1) and a telescopic sight (7).
 2. Theindicator device according to claim 1, wherein the indicator (25) has atleast one lighting element (43).
 3. The indicator device according toclaim 1, wherein the indicator (25) has at least one lighting elementthat is a light emitting diode (45).
 4. The indicator device accordingto claim 2, wherein the module (27) is provided with a fastening device(33) for mounting to the system comprising a firearm (1) and atelescopic sight (7).
 5. The indicator device according to claim 1,wherein a sensor emitting an electrical signal is provided as theinclination sensor (23), the electrical signal being supplied to acontrol device (31) is in signal connection with the indicator (25). 6.The indicator device according to claim 1, wherein the indicator (25)includes a lighting element (43).
 7. The indicator device according toclaim 1, wherein the indicator (25) is an indicator giving a signal indifferent colors, and at least one of the direction and amount of adeflection from the vertical axis (21) being indicated the differentcolors.
 8. The indicator device at least according to claim 2, whereinplural lighting elements (43), for indicating the direction of adeflection with respect to the vertical axis (21), are provided as theindicator (25).
 9. The indicator device according to claim 1, wherein adeflection with respect to the vertical axis (21) is indicated by adisplay (47).
 10. The indicator device according to claim 1, wherein atleast one of a deflection with respect to the vertical axis (21) and theamount of a deflection with respect to the vertical axis (21) areindicated by a flashing signal.
 11. The indicator device according toclaim 1, wherein an adjusting element (49) is provided for adjusting thebrightness of the indicator (25).
 12. The indicator device according toclaim 1, wherein a rotary element (51) is provided as the adjustingelement (49).
 13. The indicator device according to claim 12, whereinthe rotary element (51) has a rotation axis that is arrangedperpendicularly of an optical axis (17) of the telescopic sight (7). 14.The indicator device according to claim 1, wherein at least one pressbutton switch (53) is provided as an adjusting element (49).
 15. Theindicator device according to claim 1, wherein a toggle switch (55) isprovided as an adjusting element (49).
 16. The indicator deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the module (27) can be fastened to aneyepiece (11) of the telescopic sight (7) by fastening device.
 17. Theindicator device according to claim 4, wherein a clamp device (35) isprovided as the fastening device (33).
 18. The indicator deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein plural lighting elements (43) are arrangedcoaxially of the field of view of the eyepiece.
 19. The indicator deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the module (27) can be arranged betweenthe weapon and a telescopic sight by clamps.
 20. The indicator deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the indicator device (22) has a batterycompartment (29).
 21. The indicator device according to claim 1, whereinthe indicator device (22) includes a solar cell (30).
 22. The indicatordevice according to claim 1, wherein the control device (31) is insignal connection with an element (53) by the actuation of which anoffset value, which is stored in a control device (49), can beestablished.
 23. The indicator device according to claim 24, wherein theindicator device (22) can be electronically adjusted by an offset value.24. A firearm with a barrel axis and with a telescopic sight, wherein apreferred plane is fixed by virtue of the optical axis of the telescopicsight and the barrel axis and an axis running perpendicularly to thesetwo axes, and wherein an indicating device (22) is provided according toclaim 1, by which a deviation is indicated from a vertical axis (21)established by gravitational force.
 25. The firearm according to claim24, wherein the indicator (25) is arranged in the visual region of themarksman, outside the field of view (39) of the telescopic sight. 26.The firearm according to claim 24, wherein the indicator (25) isarranged in the visual region of the marksman, outside the field of view(39) of the telescopic sight.